HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 2010 - HIGH QUALITY CARE FOR ALL
"However, the one thing that has remained constant is our aspiration to make quality the organising principle for everything we do."
"It is a focus on quality that will make services more efficient; it is a focus on quality that will drive and inspire people to think of new ways to provide care through innovation; and it is a focus on quality that will move the NHS towards concentrating on prevention as well as cure."
Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health, The Department of Health
GovToday presents Health and Social Care 2010 - High Quality Care for All, Conference and Exhibition, which will be held at Church House Conference Centre on 17th February 2010.
Health and Social Care 2010 - High Quality Care for All will examine where we are today, review the overall strategy, and define the future challenges, with a focus on the continual evaluation of quality, productivity and care to deliver a world class, enduring health and social care sector in the UK.
In 2007, Lord Darzi lead the 'NHS Next Stage Review' to develop further the vision of an NHS fit for the 21st Century and to put 'Quality' at the heart of the NHS. In 2008, 'High Quality Care for All' was published - the final report of the 'NHS Next Stage Review' - and on 30th June this year, 'High Quality Care for All; Our Journey So Far' looked at the progress to date and the challenges moving forward.
On 10th December 2009, Secretary of State Andy Burnham announced the five-year plan to reshape the NHS to meet the challenge of delivering high quality health care in a tough financial environment. 'NHS 2010-2015 from Good to Great. Preventative, People-Centred, Productive' describes practical measures to meet the demands of an aging population and the increased prevalence of lifestyle diseases.
Taken together with publication of 'The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2010/11' by David Nicholson, NHS Chief Executive and the PBR 2009, there is a renewed focus on prevention with the ambition of delivering cost-effective high quality care through integrated, people-centred services.
With regard to Social Care, at present essential to approximately two million vulnerable people, the costs of £20 billion a year are predicted to increase dramatically with the demands of an ageing population. "The current care system, designed in the 1940s, is no longer fit to face the challenges of the 21st century" David Behan, DG at the Department of Health.
Consequently, on the 14th July 2009, the Government published 'Shaping the Future of Care Together' Green Paper, which calls for a system that is fair, simple and affordable, signalling the need for radical change. With the consultation process ending in November 2009, and a White Paper due in 2010, detailed debate is crucial to establishing fundamental reform of the system.
Moreover, overriding the health and social care agenda is the current economic climate; the success of the health and social care sector will be judged by the savings and productivity achieved, alongside the quality of care delivered. Quality and efficiency are two sides of the same coin, and remain a priority for the sector - "healthcare quality and productivity are inextricably linked and both are driven by innovation" - Lord Darzi.
Health and Social Care 2010 - High Quality Care for All will examine these issues going forward and present an unique forum for debate, bringing together the leaders and key stakeholders involved in driving this agenda to listen to the real concerns and issues of those at the forefront of service delivery. Simultaneously, providing a platform for the dissemination of learning and best practice and a showcase for productivity and innovation.
